CEO Exchange Keynote: Leadership, in Every Sense of the Word

Against a backdrop of changing consumer preferences, technology and shifts in Washington, brokerages are navigating new territory—one where the customer experience is tops, and creativity, inclusiveness and leadership are non-negotiables for success.

“Rather than being challenged by them or concerned about them, we should look at what they can deliver to us,” Boomsma told attendees of RISMedia’s 2018 Real Estate CEO Exchange, held in New York City September 5-6, in the keynote opening session, “The State of the Real Estate Union.”

“Each of these new competitors is somehow creating significance, certainty, esteem and autonomy for either agents or consumers, and it’s something that we may be missing,” said Boomsma. “The question is, how do we reestablish ourselves under these new principles to make sure we’re delivering the right things?”

The answer is leadership—not only of a brokerage, but also in areas where consumers live, and where it matters. According to Boomsma, customer service, cybersecurity, diversity, interconnectivity on an international scale…all are having an impact in the industry.

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“Being customer-centric is not new,” Boomsma explained. “Ninety percent of consumers now read online reviews before they visit a business, [and] 84 percent of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. Being responsive is the No. 1 thing consumers care about—just picking up the phone or answering an email gets you high marks.”

Coupled with that is the extra mile—the over-and-above agents do for their clients that earn them rosy testimonials, and referrals as a result.

“Whether the agent did something unexpected—say, helped with information they didn’t know they needed, or showed them things in the community—there’s a wow factor we deliver that’s hard to duplicate,” said Boomsma.

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Being aware and conscious is critical, as well, whether with a client with culturally-tied expectations, or with the community on a global level. As head of LeadingRE’s 565 members—comprised of over 130,000 associates in 70 countries—Boomsma has firsthand knowledge of how powerful this sensitivity can be, noting that agents and brokers in other countries are emulating practices in the U.S.

“When we’re setting an example for how real estate is practiced and how homeownership is realized, we need to be aware,” Boomsma said. “We’re not just leading our organization, and not just leading our agents—we’re setting an example for the entire world. It’s a great challenge for us, but also something I think we can live up to.

“There are 350 languages spoken in the U.S., and 22 percent of the country now speaks something other than English at home,” added Boomsma. “We need to be thinking about inclusivity, and be inclusive of all groups,” citing the growing influence of the Asian American, Hispanic and LGBTQ segments.

An added layer is safety, both for brokerages internally, and the consumers they serve. In one exercise, LeadingRE phished its staff, with 13 percent effectively “hacked.”

“Hacking a real estate transaction is the fastest-growing form of real estate cybercrime out there today,” Boomsma said. “These are own employees, and they’re not paying attention. It’s something we’re susceptible to.”

For brokers, these broad factors are important for a key reason: commitment to consumers. The barrage of change currently happening in housing is massive, and it is up to brokerages to delicately direct them through the transaction, and beyond.

“The world, in my opinion, is so filled with noise,” said Boomsma. “I think part of our job is to provide a certain amount of peace. Being gracious is something that’s been overlooked, and I think it’s something we have an opportunity as leaders to instill in our organizations. Gracious people are kind and their behavior is characterized by tact. Graciousness may be superficial, but sometimes what’s on the surface is good enough.”

For continuing coverage of this year’s CEO Exchange sessions, stay tuned to RISMedia.com: